Wheat flour fortification project launched in AJK

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has become the first region in the country to launch the wheat flour fortification project with the assistance of a UN agency and a Canada based nongovernmental organisation.

The “Wheat Flour Fortification Project” has been initiated in the region by the AJK food department with the technical and financial assistance of World Food Programme (WFP) and Micronutrient Initiative (MI) from May this year initially for three years, but officials say it is most likely to be extended up to five years.

Nutritionists say that nearly half of Pakistan’s children and mothers are suffering from malnutrition and the “situation has been worse than many sub-Saharan African countries.”

According to the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of 2011, the ratio of stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height) had scaled up to 44 and 15 per cent from 31 and 12 per cent recorded in NNS of 2001-02.

The ratio of anaemia has gone up to 63 per cent in children and 51 per cent in pregnant women as compared to 51 and 29 percent in the 2001-02 NNS.

Similarly, the vitamin-A deficiency in children has increased to 54 per cent and in non pregnant women to 42 per cent from what was 13 and 6 per cent, respectively, in the 2001-02 NNS.

The only improvement has been observed in iodine deficiency, as its 63 and 76 per cent ratio in 2001-02 had decreased to 36 and 36 per cent in 2011.

“Without changing this situation, Pakistan risks suffering from a demographic nightmare of a growing unskilled, economically unproductive population rather than the demographic dividend which has powered its neighbours growing prosperity,” said Dr Ahsanullah Khan Bhurgri, MI’s national programme manager in Pakistan, at a workshop here on Monday.

The workshop was organised to sensitize the masses about the consequences of micronutrient deficiencies and use of fortified flour to address the Iron deficiency anaemia among the women and children.

Dr Bhurgri told that AJK had been chosen for the wheat flour fortification project for multiple reasons, major one being the state controlled mechanism for allocation of wheat quota to the wheat flour mills for grinding and onward distribution and sale through food depots.

According to the statistics, all 11 wheat flour mills across AJK are producing around 350,000 metric tons of wheat flour for its distribution and sale through the AJK food department. Apart from that, some of these mills are also authorised to purchase wheat from the private market for grinding.

“Under this project, which has been launched last month, we are providing pre-mix (comprising iron and folic acid) to these mills not only for the state provided quota of wheat but also for what they purchase from the open market for grinding,” Dr Bhurgri said.

On a whole, around 500,000 metric tons of wheat flour containing pre-mix would be provided to consumers in AJK, he added.

He said MI would shortly launch another project with fiscal cooperation from DFID to cover watermills for wheat flour fortification drive.

He said the project had initially been launched for three years. However after the approval of DFID funding, it would be extended to five years.

He further said that negotiations were underway with the AJK food and health departments to make it mandatory for the flour mills to provide wheat flour mixed with iron and folic acid.

Speaking at the workshop, AJK minister for agriculture, animal husbandry and information, Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi, appreciated MI efforts to introduce cost effective and sustainable solutions to address the micronutrient deficiencies globally, particularly in Pakistan and AJK.

 “This is an extremely significant development that addresses Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) in AJK with just a mere cost of Rs 2 per 20 Kg of flour,” he said.

Others who spoke included Dr Shabbir Dar, executive director, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad and AJK’ nutrition focal person, Sohail Manzoor, representative WFP and Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua, MI country director in Pakistan

 Tariq Naqash 

AJK Inland Revenue boss only twice in his head office

Believe it or not, the head of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Department of Inland Revenue has attended his office in the state capital Muzaffarabad only twice after assuming this position on deputation basis in June last year.

The services of Muhammad Waseem Altaf, a BPS-19 officer of the Inland Revenue Service of Pakistan, were placed at the disposal of the AJK Council on June 13, 2014, following which he was appointed as Commissioner Inland Revenue, a BPS-20 post, as well as head of the AJK’s Department of Inland Revenue.

The AJK Department of Inland Revenue falls under the administrative control of the AJK Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Federal Minister and Federal Secretary for Kashmir affairs happen to be the in-charge minister and in-charge secretary of the AJK Council.

After hardly a month, Mr Altaf was also given the charge of Commissioner Provincial Taxes, another BPS-20 post in the Department of Inland Revenue.

As per rules, an official on deputation cannot be promoted by the borrowing department. However, surprisingly Mr Altaf was offered not one but two BPS-20 posts in contravention of rules.

The standing instructions of Establishment Division clearly state that when a higher post falls vacant in an organisation the senior most official in that organisation shall be conferred current charge promotion.

However, in the AJK Department of Inland Revenue, two BPS-19 officers who qualified for promotion in next grade were refused their right, apparently for not being acceptable to the buyable bosses of the AJK Council.

Interestingly, despite being offered the charge of both offices, Mr Altaf came to Muzaffarabad in August for the first time to have an introductory meeting with the staff based at the headquarters of the AJK Department of Inland Revenue.

Afterwards, he visited his office in Muzaffarabad for the second and so far for the last time some three months ago to chair a meeting on revenue targets, sources in his office say.

On Friday last, when a similar meeting was held in the AJK Finance Department, Mr Altaf did not turn up there and instead sent his special assistant Mr Asim Shaukat to represent him.

It may also be interesting to mention here that Mr Shaukat, who was inducted in 2003 as assistant collector central excise in BPS-17, is currently holding the charge of three posts – assistant collector (BPS-17), deputy collector (BPS-18) and additional collector (BPS-19), thanks to Mr Altaf's special blessing.

Sources allege that in fact Mr Shaukat calls the shots in the AJK Department of Inland Revenue on behalf of Mr Altaf, who is more interested in poetry and movies than his job.

When this scribe contacted Mr Altaf on telephone on Thursday evening and asked him why he had not been attending his office in Muzaffarabad, he replied: “I visit that place (Muzaffarabad) as and when it is required.”

When asked how many times he had visited Muzaffarabad over the past 11 months, he gave a terse reply: “Several times.”

He stressed that the headquarters of AJK Department of Inland Revenue was in Mirpur and not in the state capital Muzaffarabad.

Interestingly, during the telephonic conversation with this scribe, Mr Altaf also claimed that he was speaking from Muzaffarabad. He declined to answer more questions on phone and instead invited this scribe to see him in his office in Muzaffarabad on Friday, perhaps assuming that this scribe was based in Islamabad and could hardly travel to Muzaffarabad to verify his presence.But, when this scribe visited his office in Muzaffarabad on Friday, it transpired that “the commissioner had not been there for many months.”

“He is in his Mirpur office and not here,” one official told this scribe, but declined to be identified.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Altaf is one of those officers who were recently ignored by the prime minister of Pakistan for promotion in BPS-20, reportedly on the issue of integrity.

Tariq Naqash 

In AJK Council, honesty is NOT the best policy

A senior most official of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Department of Inland Revenue, who had pinpointed losses to national exchequer to the tune of at least Rs 8 billion, is being made to pay a high price for the whistle blowing, it has been learnt.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, presently serving as Commissioner (Appeals) in BS-19, had submitted a comprehensive report to the Federal Secretary, Kashmir Affairs, in September 2013, highlighting gross irregularities in the issuance of tax refunds worth billions of rupees to the foreign companies engaged by WAPDA for Mangla raising project and Neelum-Jhelum Hydro-Power Project.

The Department of Inland Revenue (IR) falls under the administrative control of the AJK Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as chairman, and has its secretariat in Islamabad.

Federal Minister and Federal Secretary, Kashmir Affairs, happen to be its in-charge minister and administrative secretary, respectively.

In his report, Mr Ahmed had identified the alleged irregularities involving receipt of cash in Excise Offices on account of motor taxes, registration and transfer of ownership fees of motor vehicles leading to overcharging or non-deposit of the same in the national kitty. 

Regarding tax refunds to the foreign companies, he had pointed out that since the foreign investors were undertaking only the high-return projects due to the security concerns in the country, they could not suffer business losses.

Similarly, he had also cited lack of proper assessment of domestic companies as well as favouritism in award of performance-related cash rewards, misuse of official vehicles and ministerial staff.

However, the report did not go well with the AJK Council, triggering off a series of vindictive actions against him, notwithstanding his unblemished service record.

Interestingly, the Council assigned its own officer for an inquiry into his report and not to the firms of chartered accountants as permitted by income and sales tax laws. 

Prior to that, on January 15, 2014, an FIR was lodged against Mr Ahmed by his ex-wife (divorced in 2009), alleging that he had sold her vehicle fraudulently in March 2008.

Mr Ahmed contended in the High Court that the FIR had been lodged with the connivance of some officers of his department, almost six years after the sale of the disputed vehicle and five years after he had divorced the complainant.

He also brought two cases of unusual favour given by the department to the siblings of his former wife besides referring to his report, following which the HC suspended the FIR on January 30, 2014. 

However, the Council placed Mr Ahmed under suspension on the basis of the in-operative FIR from February 2, 2014, the day he completed his senior management course from Karachi.

A Sessions Court where Mr Ahmed had applied for bail-before-arrest noted discrepancy in the complainant’s version and held on March 24 that prima facie the allegations against him were untrue.

However, two days after the said judgment, the Council set up its own “Fact Finding Committee” to probe the matter that was beyond its mandate.

The Committee did not hear Mr Ahmed and recommended action against him under the E&D Rules, 1973, on the grounds that he had “used his position for transfer of vehicle’s ownership.”

Interestingly, the ownership was transferred on September 17, 2008 when Mr Ahmed was in Netherland to pursue a professional course.

On being challenged, the AJK High Court set aside the notification of his suspension on May 22, 2014. However, in order to circumvent the HC order, the Council maintained that he had been suspended vide another notification issued “some 20 days ago on May 2, 2014.”

The second notification was also suspended by the HC on May 30, followed by an interim order on August 15 whereby the case was held in abeyance due to a sub judice review petition in AJK Supreme Court on the competence of Secretary, Kashmir Affairs to sack BS-19 officers.

The Council filed a Petition for Leave to Appeal (PLA) in the AJK Supreme Court against HC interim order, alleging that “Mr Ahmed was involved in a serious crime and was causing loss of revenue by passing vindictive orders as Commissioner (Appeals).”

As corruption charges were also levelled against him during verbal arguments, the Supreme Court held that the competent authority (PM Pakistan) could proceed against him under the law.

Based on the apex court order, the Council sought approval from the PM for disciplinary action against Mr Ahmed. The approval was granted, but with a condition that inquiry officer should not belong to the Council or the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.

On April 15, this year, the FIR against Mr Ahmed was also quashed by the senior civil judge, Muzaffarabad.  

Sources in AJK bureaucracy claimed that a group of corrupt officials in the Council, fearful of Mr Ahmed’s integrity, was bent upon thwarting his elevation as head of the department.

And there was credible evidence in support of their assertion.

In January 2012, the Council had issued a provisional seniority list of the IR officers, whereby Mr Ahmed was placed beneath Mirza Zulfiqar, in spite of the fact that the latter had worked under his direct subordination in 2007-08.

In August 2012, Mr Zulfiqar was given the charge of head of the department while in June 2014, a month before his retirement, the Council inducted Mohammad Waseem Altaf, an FBR official of BS-19, in the Department of IR on deputation as head of the department. 

Interestingly, Mr Altaf is one of those officers who were ignored for promotioin in BS-20, reportedly because the PM office did not receive a positive report about their integrity. They have challenged that decision in the Lahore High Court.  However, here in AJK he is holding the charge of both BS-20 posts of Commissioner IR and Commissioner Provincial Taxes, in contravention of the relevant rules.

When contacted by this scribe on telephone, Federal Secretary Shahidullah Baig said an inquiry into the matter was under process. 

“The Prime Minister has sought a panel of three officers from outside the Ministry of Kashmir affairs and the Council. The panel has been sent via Establishment Division,” he said.

To another question, he denied outright that the Council had anything to do with the family dispute of the official. 

“In fact its because of transfer of a vehicle. Papers have been sent to the PM office after consultation with the Law Division,” he said. 

When asked if Mr Ahmed was a dishonest officer, he said he could not give any statement about it before inquiry. 

When asked why the report by Mr Ahmed on alleged lapses in assessment and refund of taxes was not verified through external experts, he counter questioned: “Do you think all those sitting in the Council are dishonest?”

He then went on to claim that ever since his posting, he had saved Rs 330 million in the non-development budget. 

Mr Baig refused to take up more questions, saying he was in the middle of a meeting. 

It may be mentioned here that the AJK Council has mostly remained at the centre of allegations of embezzlement of the AJK taxpayers’ money through shady contacts.

 In one such case in January 2010, full advance payment of Rs 109 million was made by the Council to an obscure company, allegedly owned by the kin of the then federal secretary Kashmir affairs, for computerisation of the Department of IR, which has not been done to this day.

In June 2012, when the then Accountant General Tahir Mahmud Butt pointed out this and some other serious violations of codal formalities and applications of pre-audit checks in the multi-million deals of Council, arrest warrants of two officials were issued by the then AJK Ehtesab Bureau chairman Justice Hussain Mazhar Kaleem.

However, the Bureau was stopped from taking any action on those cases amid removal of Mr Kaleem from its chairmanship.

When Mr Baig was asked that why the culprits involved in automation scam were not punished, he claimed that an inquiry into this matter was also under process..... Tariq Naqash

PM Majeed returns to capital after one month, but only for two days

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed returned to the seat of his government late on Sunday after almost a month, in what has been the longest absence of the chief executive from the state capital.

However, he will not be here for too long, as he is again scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom on November 6 to “supervise” arrangements for a public meeting of PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on November 15.

Recently, the AJK premier had announced from UK that he would organise a “biggest ever public meeting in the Britain’s history” for Mr Bilawal in Birmingham.

The announcement was made by him in the wake of an unpleasant happening with the young PPP chairman at London’s “Kashmir Million March” on October 26. It is still unclear that who had invited Mr Bilawal at the event, which the organisers had repeatedly declared would remain apolitical and Kashmir centric.

It may be recalled that Mr Majeed had left Muzaffarabad on October 4 for Kashmir House Islamabad, cynically referred to as the de-facto capital of the AJK government.

From there, he drove to his hometown for a day to celebrate Eid ul Azha and returned to Kashmir House to stay there until October 9, missing the 9th anniversary function of the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake in Muzaffarabad, to the chagrin of government officials, opposition and civil society.

 On October 9, Mr Majeed flew along with many of his cabinet colleagues to Karachi in connection with PPP’s October 18 public meeting where Mr Bilawal formally launched his political career in the country.

Mr Majeed and his cabinet members camped themselves in the provincial capital for ten days, notwithstanding criticism back home, only to remain in the good books of their party leadership.

He returned from Karachi on October 19 and after staying in Kashmir House over the next five days, flew to France on October 23.

The purpose of visit, according to an official notification, was to attend the book launch of ‘Benazir Papers’ by PPP Senator Jehangir Badar and “interact with Kashmiri Pakistani community and European parliamentarians in France, Belgium and UK.”

This time round, Mr Majeed missed the 67th anniversary of the foundation of AJK government in the state capital on October 24.

Interestingly, it was for the first time that not a single cabinet member was among the attendees of the police parade, which is the main event of the foundation day celebrations in Muzaffarabad.

From Paris, Mr Majeed came to London along with Mr Bilawal to attend “Million March” organised by Barrister Sultan Mahmood, his archrival within the ruling party. However, he remained largely unnoticed at the march, due to his unfriendly ties with Mr Mahmood, an open secret in AJK.

The prime minister returned to Pakistan on Monday and from there to Muzaffarabad late in the evening, but only for two days, which incidentally were holidays. He left for Islamabad on Tuesday morning. 

It was unclear whether the expenses of his upcoming tour would be met from state exchequer or from donations from the UK.

However, civil society was up in the arms against the absence of the chief executive and most of his cabinet members from the capital in the name of one or the other political activity.

“He has been elected to serve the AJK people. There is no justification for him to spend his time and the taxpayer’ money on activities that are of no benefit to us,” said Abdul Hafeez Azad, a civil society activist from Neelum valley.

University student Aamna Khan was more critical.

“This government has left the AJK people at the mercy of circumstances. When the prime minister is away for weeks and his cabinet members follow the suit the already dismal governance is bound to go to dogs,” she said. 

When asked, Shaukat Javed Mir, one of the spokespersons of Mr Majeed, justified his absence of “for being in connection with projection of Kashmir issue.”

“You see he has been busy in engagements that have highlighted Kashmir issue. The criticism is simply uncalled for,” he said.

Tariq Naqash

PML-N minister's 'cordiality' with PPP govt spotlights AJK Council affairs

The growing “contacts and cordiality” between the Federal Minister for Kashmir affairs Chaudhry Barjees Tahir and the Peoples Party led Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government have served to create a gulf between him and the AJK chapter of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

And at the same time, they have once again turned the spotlight on the unbridled spending of AJK taxpayers’ hard earned money at the hands of those who are at the helm in any respect in the AJK Council, an institution of which Mr Tahir happens to be the in-charge federal minister.

Such is the state of affairs that the PML-N AJK chapter has called for intervention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the situation, in a recently dispatched letter. Mr Sharif has also been requested to replace Mr Tahir in the likely cabinet reshuffle by someone else, who does not have biradri (clannish) connections in AJK.

Mr Tahir who not too long ago would be denounced by the PPP led AJK government, a day in and a day out, for his insistence on elimination of alleged corruption and improvement of governance in AJK has not only mended fences with the local PPP leaders, but is also alleged to be facilitating them, to the chagrin of his party’s AJK chapter, sources say.

On October 27, when Mr Tahir travelled to Muzaffarabad with acting Prime Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin to attend the ‘Black Day’ demonstration under the aegis of the AJK government, none of the PML-N leaders was seen meeting and greeting him here, thus bringing in the open the disagreement between the two sides, sources added.

“The PML-N believes that Mr Tahir is in cahoots with some PPP leaders in AJK, presumably on the basis of biradri, and for that reason he is not only doling them out the AJK Council funds, but also helping them have lent officers of their choice posted in AJK,” confided a source in the PML-N.

It may be recalled here that the federal minister for Kashmir affairs also happens to be the in-charge federal minister of the AJK Council, an institution created through the AJK’s Interim Constitution Act, 1974, and headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Interestingly, neither the prime minister nor the federal minister take oath for these positions under the AJK’s Interim Constitution.

The Council, which comprises six members elected by the AJK Assembly and as many co-opted from the Parliament of Pakistan, was created to serve as a bridge between the governments in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. However, contrarily, people believe, it has turned itself into a parallel government, which in no way is answerable to the AJK people.  

Its main source of income is 20 per cent of the income tax, it generates from the AJK territory as well as (entire) license fees from the telecom companies operating in AJK. The remaining 80 per cent of income tax is given to the AJK government. 

However, what has always been an issue of serious concern for the AJK people is the wanton disbursement of Council funds, largely at the discretion of its in-charge federal minister.

In the current year’s budget, which is yet to be passed, the Council has earmarked Rs 2.6 billion for developmental activities within AJK and Pakistan, even though legally it is not mandated to carry out developmental work within the territory of AJK.

However, this law has never been followed, as these development activities at inflated rates suit the vested interests. They are filling their pockets, without any fear of inquiry or monitoring by any accountability body in AJK and Pakistan.

The AJK based media has no access to the Council records and the Pakistan based media has no interest in its affairs. Those few who try to dig out details are offered tempting “schemes” which many hardly refuse, and hence the loot and plunder goes on with impunity.

In the current year’s budget, the federal minister has placed a staggering Rs 300 million for developmental activities anywhere in AJK and Pakistan at his discretion. Rs 45 million each have been proposed at the discretion of the AJK president, who happens to be the vice chairman of Council, the AJK prime minister and the six elected members.

In the absence of any criterion for spending, these funds are mostly frittered away. 

Mr Tahir has also brought an Executive Engineer (XEN) from Punjab to head the Development Wing of the AJK Council as Superintending Engineer (SE), so that everything - from preparation of schemes to their execution – is done by the Council itself.

Resultantly, now no one else will be able to share the kickbacks.  

The PML-N AJK leaders had long been demanding special audit of the AJK Council, particularly after allegations that its former in-charge federal minister in the PPP government, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, had “shamelessly abused the Council funds to mint money for himself and cronies.”

However, they feel exasperated after Mr Tahir has not only “brushed off that demand but has himself adopted the course of his predecessors,” sources say.

Sources disclose that the PML-N AJK leadership, which is not on talking terms with Mr Tahir for quite some time, also believes that he has an “attitude problem.”

During his recent tour to Kotli, Mr Tahir was alleged to have misbehaved with two PML-N lawmakers.

 The PML-N AJK has demanded of PM Sharif to take stock of the situation. Besides, it has given him some suggestions to ensure judicious spending of the AJK Council funds.

“The AJK taxpayers’ money in the Council has always been misused as political bribe by successive federal ministers and ironically the vice is being continued by the incumbent minister,” the PML-N AJK is said to have complained to Mr Sharif along with some pieces of evidence.

However, publicly the PML-N AJK leaders are tight-lipped about the differences, “lest it can aggravate problems for Mr Sharif, already upset by the Imran Khan led offensive,” sources say.  

“We are virtually helpless. We cannot show our wounds to the public. But if the situation remains unheeded it will eventually deal a serious blow to us in the next elections,” remarked a PML-N leader on condition of anonymity.

When this scribed contacted Raja Farooq Haider, PML-N president in AJK, he confirmed the differences, though cautiously.

“We have some reservations which we have brought in the notice of our central leadership,” he said.

Interestingly before the last year’s general elections in Pakistan, Mr Sharif had pledged in his election manifesto to empower the AJK government by transferring it most of the Council’s legislative powers. However, more than a year on, he has not found time to pay attention to this issue.

As Mr Sharif owes gratitude to PPP for its support to him in the crises kicked up by PTI and PAT, he has turned a blind eye towards the allegations of corruption against the AJK government. A comprehensive document prepared by PML-N MLA Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, in this regard, is therefore gathering dust in the PM’s office in Islamabad.  

Early this year, it was the PPP in AJK seeking Mr Tahir's removal from Kashmir affair's ministry and as the year draws to a close it’s his own PML-N in AJK making a similar demand, though apparently for unalike reasons.

Whatever may be the cause it’s however a blessing in disguise, because it calls attention to the misuse of funds in the AJK Council and the dire need for its reorganization through the much touted reforms in the AJK’s Interim Constitution.

Tariq Naqash 

Doctor accused of attempted rape of a young girl remanded in police custody

 A specialist doctor, accused of attempting to rape a young female patient at a major health facility in the district headquarters of Poonch, has been remanded in police custody for five days on Saturday.

Dr Gul Nisar, serving as ENT specialist in the Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan (SKZN) Hospital, Rawalakot, was arrested past midnight after an application was lodged against him in the City Police Station by the father of a 13-year old girl, who alleged that he had molested her in the separate room earlier in the evening.

According to the FIR, the girl was brought by her father to SKZN Hospital on Friday morning due to a nasal problem and she was admitted in the ENT ward by a duty doctor. In the afternoon, the accused ENT specialist, during a round of the ENT ward, took her to a procedure room, "where he asked her to remove her trousers and then fingered her genitals."

The distraught girl rushed out of the procedure room, sobbing, and narrated her ordeal to her father while the accused doctor slipped away from the ward, the FIR stated.

Sources told this scribe that the girl’s father brought the issue in the notice of hospital’s commandant, who then recorded her statement in the presence of senior doctors.

The FIR was lodged after the girl’s statement to the hospital authorities, sources said, adding, in the meanwhile the local civil society had also swung into action to get the alleged accused punished.

Police said that the accused was booked under section 18 ZHA (attempt for rape) and the arrest was made at about 12:30 am.

SHO City Police Station Akmal Sharif told this scribe that the accused physician denies the allegations, saying he had himself brought the girl back in the ward from the procedure room and then left for his flat. 

When contacted, DG health Sardar Mahmood Ahmed Khan said that he had received a report about the alleged incident from the hospital authorities, apart from other sources. He said though he had  initiated departmental proceedings for the suspension of the accused doctor, an order to this effect would however be issued after Eid holidays.

The accused doctor, said to be in his early 30s', is single and was going to tie the nuptial knot later this month.

On Saturday, when he was produced before the additional session judge for remand, some lawyers tried to rough him up.

The local medical fraternity however condemned the lawyers’ attitude.

“We had already made it clear that if allegations are proven, the law should take its course. Nonetheless, the attitude of lawyers is condemnable,” said Dr Wajid Khan, president PMA, Poonch chapter.

…. Tariq Naqash 

Intelligence agency official beaten for 'blackmailing a female student'

A man who claimed he served in an intelligence agency was beaten black and blue by the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK) students here on Thursday, allegedly for blackmailing a female student in connivance with a non-local academician.

Afterwards, the students brought the injured official to the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarabad Irfan Masood Kashfi, with his mobile phone and that of the victim as an evidence of their allegations.

Both the phones were handed over to the SSP “so that he could see for himself the obnoxious texts sent by the accused to the victim.”

The accused, when confronted by some media persons in one of the chambers of SSP’s office, claimed that he would visit the University for “verification of students for the scholarships.”

However, he could not offer a plausible reply when asked that in which capacity he was carrying out such a task.

Later, student leaders Zubair Ahmed Mir, Farooq Mir, Raja Asad Farooq, Mehtab Abbasi, Asim Kamran and Mahmood Ahmed Mir held a press conference on the issue and called for exemplary punishment to all those involved in the heinous act of blackmailing female students for carnal desires.

They alleged that the accused official in connivance with Mr Abdul Majeed Niazi, Director, Institute of Education, UAJK, started texting her from September 26 initially to facilitate her scholarship, while introducing himself as Captain Sheraz from an intelligence agency.

On Thursday morning, he arrived at the entrance of the UAJK’s City Campus and kept on pressing the girl through text messages to come out for a date with him, they said.  

As the victim had already shared her plight with a class representative (CR), dozens of infuriated students got hold of the accused on the main road outside the city campus and started beating him like anything, they added.

According to them, when the mobile of the accused was snatched, he claimed that it belonged to Mr Niazi, a resident of Mianwali appointed in the UAJK under Tenure Track System more than two years ago.

The student leaders further claimed that when they were bringing the accused to the SSP office, he begged them to let him go and in return he would share details about the network that blackmailed the female students.

Initially apprehensive of police, the student leaders however praised them at the press conference for their “positive attitude and cooperation.”

In the afternoon, the victim also recorded her statement before Deputy Commissioner Masoodur Rehman, wherein she reportedly said that she was being blackmailed by the agency official and the UAJK director.

When contacted, SSP Kashfi told this scribe late in the evening that since the accused claimed himself to be an employee of an intelligence agency, he had been handed over to them for trial by a military court.

“We have recorded evidence and statements of all concerned and the same has also been provided to the concerned military authorities for further action under the law,” he said. 

He said due to the alleged involvement of a UAJK director in this case, the police had also taken Vice Chancellor Dr Syed Dilnawaz Ahmed Gardezi on board, and the latter had committed to hold an internal inquiry by October 20.

 Earlier in the day, a UAJK spokesman said that the Vice Chancellor had taken serious notice of the brawl between the students and an “outsider” outside the city campus and formed a committee to hold impartial and independent investigations and submit its report at the earliest.

The committee is headed by dean faculty of science and engineering Prof Dr Mohammad Rustam Khan and includes dean faculty of arts Prof Dr Nadeem Haider Bukhari, director students’ affairs Prof Amir Farooq and his predecessor Prof Ikram ur Rasheed and coordinator BS (education) programme Prof Siddique Awan.   

“The Vice Chancellor has made it clear that no one can be allowed to vitiate the academic environment of the sacred institution and that stern action will be taken in case any varsity official was found guilty,” the spokesman said.

Tariq Naqash